Weedon Bec named as Northamptonshire Village of the Year 2015

Rothersthorpe Winner of Small Villages cup and overall 2015 Best Village Competition Third place. Photo shows Rothersthorpe villagers Philip Dickens, Lindsey Moss, Barbara Walsh & Helen Teden receiving the Small Villages cup from David Laing.

More than 50 villagers and other guests gathered at the Hunsbury Hill Centre, Harksome Hill, Northampton, on Tuesday night to find out the results of the annual awards that celebrate community spirit and the quality of life in the county’s villages.

As well as being named overall winner Weedon Bec was also named best large village with judges commending it for its “welcoming and vibrant community.”

Syresham was named as best medium-sized village and was runner-up in the overall competition. Best small village was Rothersthorpe, which came third in the overall competition.

Syresham Winner of Medium Sized Villages cup and Overall 2015 Best Village Competition runner-up. Photo shows John Nash, Chris Munsey & Dot Dunkley receiving Medium Winners cup from David Laing

The awards were handed out by David Laing, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire

The Best Village Competition is run entirely by local volunteers and is based at Northamptonshire ACRE.

The competition, which is sponsored by Hollowell’s Funeral Plans, looks at all aspects of village life: community and social activities, sustainability, the provision for the younger and more senior residents, the village website, local business involvement as well as tidiness and the welcome visitors receive.

David Scudamore, Chair of the 2015 Best Village Competition, said: “We congratulate every village that entered the 2015 Competition. It is noticeable that successful villages bring the community together to decide on what to show the judges and how to manage their village visit.

Weedon Bec - Overall 2015 Best Village Competition Winner and winner of the Large sized Villages. Photo shows John Wilshire & Sue Butler receiving the Winners Cup from David Laing, HM Lord- Lieutenant & President of Northamptonshire ACRE

“Yet again the judges had great difficulty in deciding on the winning villages reflecting the high quality of Northamptonshire’s rural communities. We would like to thank every village for making the judge’s visits both informative and enjoyable.

The full results of the competition were:

OVERALL WINNERS WINNER Weedon Bec

Runner Up Syresham

All winners at the Northamptonshire Village of the Year competition with David Laing (HM Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire & Northamptonshire ACRE President), David Scudamore (Chair of BVC Competition) and Barron Walton (BVC County Co-ordinator)

Third Rothersthorpe

SMALL VILLAGES Winner Rothersthorpe

Runner Up Lois Weedon & Weston

Highly Commended Moreton Pinkney

MEDIUM VILLAGES Winner Syresham

Runner Up Flore

Highly Commended Cottingham

LARGE VILLAGES Winner Weedon Bec

Runner Up Stanwick

Highly Commended Blisworth and Mawsley

NEWCOMERS CUP Winner Moreton Pinkney